British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

Julius Caesar

Synopsis
Televised adaptation of the play with Maurice Denham as Caesar and Robert Stephens as Mark Antony.
Series
Play of the Month
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Television
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Transmission details
13 Apr 1969 at 20:15 (Channel: BBC1)
Duration
120 mins

Credits

Director
Alan Bridges
Producer
Cedric Messina
Writer
William Shakespeare
Art Direction
Spencer Chapman
Cast
Maurice DenhamJulius Caesar
Robert StephensMark Antony
Alan RoweDecius Brutus
Edward WoodwardCaius Cassius
Ann CastlePortia
Andrew Johns 
Anthony BateCasca
Brian VaughanCarpenter
Bruce Bould 
Carolyn Courage 
Christopher BenjaminCobbler
Christopher DenhamYoung Cato
Christopher GuardLucius
Christopher SteelePublius
Christopher Strauli 
Christopher TimothyCinna the Poet
Colin RixFlavius
David SadgroveDardanius
Dek Anderson 
Dolman Adams 
Duncan Preston 
Edwina Jeans 
Emrys LeyshonLucilius
Frank FinlayMarcus Brutus
Geoffrey JamesLepidus
Graham GordonClitus
Gwen CherrellCalphurnia
Hermione Boulton 
Hessel Saks 
John AbineriMurellus
John AldertonOctavius Caesar
John KellandTrebonius
John MooreTitinius
Jon RollasonMetellus Cimber
Jonathan Meades 
Jonathan ScottSoothsayer
Juian D’AlbieCicero
Kay Barlow 
Leigh Lawson 
Lindsay Walker 
Margaret Davies 
Mellan MitchellServant (to Octavius Caesar)
Myles Reithermann 
Nikolas SimmondsClaudio
Pamela Denton 
Peter JessonPindarus
Raymond MasonCinna
Richard BurrellCaius Ligarius
Richard CoeServant (to Antony)
Stephen SheppardVarrus
Stuart Wilson (2)Strato
Terence de MarneyPopillius
Tony WrightMessala
Trevor MartinArtemidorus

Additional Details

Production type
Television and Radio Drama
Historical period
Ancient Rome
Plays
Julius Caesar
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes
The BBC Audience Research Viewing Panel Report noted many complaints about the sound balance - ‘the effects boys were having a field day’, but many felt the ‘wealth of magnificent speeches, dramatic intensity and telling reflections on political ambition and intrigue’ made Julius Caesar eminently suitable for television.

The Library of Congress holds master material only, no viewing copy (5/2008).
History
The first BBC television production of the play in colour. It is part of a series of eight Shakespeare plays produced for BBC by Cedric Messina, who was to launch the production of the BBC TV Shakespeare series three years later. First US broadcast 17 June 1971 in the NET Playhouse series.
Figures
Reaction Index 71. Watched by 9.7% of the available audience.
Stills
http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1162709/index.html
Textual information
The text was cut to fit the the two-hour time slot of the programme.

Online Availability

Online URL
http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1162709/index.html

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web
http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7255 1444
Fax
020 7436 0165
Address
21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN
Name

BoB

Email
bob@learningonscreen.ac.uk
Web
https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ondemand External site opens in new window
Phone
020 3743 2345
Address
Learning on Screen - the British Universities and Colleges Film and Video Council
330 Holborn Gate
1st Floor, Suite 120
London
WC1V 7QH
Notes
Formerly a service from BUFVC, British Universities Film & Video Council
Name

Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting & Recorded Sound Division

Web
http://catalog.loc.gov/ External site opens in new window
Phone
(20) 707-8572
Fax
(20) 707-237’1
Address
Motion Picture & Television Reading Room
James Madison Building, LM 336
101 Independence Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C.
20540-4690
United States

Record Stats

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